We're off again. Well not qute yet but just got our trip planned out for gaining two more capitols.
We will head out on June 13 to Sacramento, California. Then on to Yosemite National Park.
We have never been there. We tried once and got part way up and had car problems so had to leave and head on home. This time after our expensive little job on the Honda he better get us there with flying colors. Anyway we are looking forward to finally adding this to our National Park list too. Anybody been there that has some "have to do" things at the park?
Then we will head on to get the capitol at Carson City, Nevada - play around at Virginia City and Reno several days and head on home. We will be back on Monday, June 23
Hoping to maybe get another trip back East next year. We'll see. They are so much easier to get back there as the states are much closer together.
Then we should be home pretty much until our cruise in September....
Any and all are still welcome to join us for that. We are gathering a number of people
who have never cruised before so that should be fun.
The evening of June 1 we will be having a reception/open house for Mark and Jill Elefritz. All of Astoria has been waiting for a chance to meet this lucky lady who finally won Mark's heart after all these years of bachelorhood!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Home at last
Seems like ages since I have gotten a blog off because ....
We left early Friday am for Longview, took our car to the Honda dealer for his 90,000 mile
"surgery"..... They had him from 8:45 am until 3:30 pm so he is now in spanking new shape.
He will be around for awhile. Expensive but beats car payments!
Friday night we went to a show at the Columbia theatre in Longview with an illusionist.
Very entertaining and we appreciated him calling them illusions not magic !
Then on to Vancouver to spend the nite with Steve and Lorraine before heading to Eugene
Saturday morning for Tanners' school play. They performed Shakespear's "A Midsummer Nights Dream." VERY FUN ! Each performer looked like they were totally enjoying every minute of it as we all were too. (Ask Tanner about being a "wall.") She did a great job !!
Then had the privilage of attending the Ballet.Magnificat! performing The Scarlet Cord (version of Rahab) Sunday evening. What a treat that was! It is the ministry of Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux and we were privileged to spend some time with them as they were staying with Ken and La Chel. What a delightful couple, full of the love of the Lord ! It was a fantastic performance ! A total delight to watch.
Arrived home Monday evening and today got a phone call from Mark Elefritz and we got a date for them to come to Astoria to finally inroduce Jill to everyone around here. They will be coming on Sunday, June 1. We are looking forward to that.
So that has been our life the past few days. Back to normal again today and trying to catch up on some things.
PS Chester has a girl friend! When we got home the neighbors cat (we think) a cute little calico was rolling around and playing with him on our deck. Not sure what she was looking for but she won't get any cooperation from Chester : ) But they weren't fighting so guess she is good company for him.
We left early Friday am for Longview, took our car to the Honda dealer for his 90,000 mile
"surgery"..... They had him from 8:45 am until 3:30 pm so he is now in spanking new shape.
He will be around for awhile. Expensive but beats car payments!
Friday night we went to a show at the Columbia theatre in Longview with an illusionist.
Very entertaining and we appreciated him calling them illusions not magic !
Then on to Vancouver to spend the nite with Steve and Lorraine before heading to Eugene
Saturday morning for Tanners' school play. They performed Shakespear's "A Midsummer Nights Dream." VERY FUN ! Each performer looked like they were totally enjoying every minute of it as we all were too. (Ask Tanner about being a "wall.") She did a great job !!
Then had the privilage of attending the Ballet.Magnificat! performing The Scarlet Cord (version of Rahab) Sunday evening. What a treat that was! It is the ministry of Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux and we were privileged to spend some time with them as they were staying with Ken and La Chel. What a delightful couple, full of the love of the Lord ! It was a fantastic performance ! A total delight to watch.
Arrived home Monday evening and today got a phone call from Mark Elefritz and we got a date for them to come to Astoria to finally inroduce Jill to everyone around here. They will be coming on Sunday, June 1. We are looking forward to that.
So that has been our life the past few days. Back to normal again today and trying to catch up on some things.
PS Chester has a girl friend! When we got home the neighbors cat (we think) a cute little calico was rolling around and playing with him on our deck. Not sure what she was looking for but she won't get any cooperation from Chester : ) But they weren't fighting so guess she is good company for him.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Daughters
DAUGHTERS : )
Daughters are special people and today I have to tell you about one of mine. She is a very special young lady and she came into our lives when our son was in high school. He was turning out for the school play and rehearsals were after school so since we lived in the country and he was bussed to school it made sense for him to stay after without coming home first. Little did we know at that time that "staying after school" would change our lives. Because for some reason he chose to go to a certain young ladys house to wait for rehearsal.
One thing led to another and sure enough a few years later she made our life complete becoming our second daughter-in-law and the perfect wife for our Ken. Let me tell you it is always a little scary when your children begin to date. Parents always sort of begin to look at that person with different eyes and say to themselves "what if he/she is the one." Sometimes that can get a little scary. But each time this happened to us, we couldn't have been happier with their selection.
So back to our La Chel - she is a very special little lady to us and is a great match for Ken.
After all, Ken was never too interested in fixing things etc as he grew up and how many of you know a young lady that would buy a beautiful new dress for a prom and then returned it so she could buy a tool box full of tools. God does pick our mates to compliment us.
She fit into our family like a glove fits one's hand and we are so proud of her and she has now given us two more beautiful young ladies to have as our grandaughters.
You are a very special person in our lives La Chel - We love you
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY
Daughters are special people and today I have to tell you about one of mine. She is a very special young lady and she came into our lives when our son was in high school. He was turning out for the school play and rehearsals were after school so since we lived in the country and he was bussed to school it made sense for him to stay after without coming home first. Little did we know at that time that "staying after school" would change our lives. Because for some reason he chose to go to a certain young ladys house to wait for rehearsal.
One thing led to another and sure enough a few years later she made our life complete becoming our second daughter-in-law and the perfect wife for our Ken. Let me tell you it is always a little scary when your children begin to date. Parents always sort of begin to look at that person with different eyes and say to themselves "what if he/she is the one." Sometimes that can get a little scary. But each time this happened to us, we couldn't have been happier with their selection.
So back to our La Chel - she is a very special little lady to us and is a great match for Ken.
After all, Ken was never too interested in fixing things etc as he grew up and how many of you know a young lady that would buy a beautiful new dress for a prom and then returned it so she could buy a tool box full of tools. God does pick our mates to compliment us.
She fit into our family like a glove fits one's hand and we are so proud of her and she has now given us two more beautiful young ladies to have as our grandaughters.
You are a very special person in our lives La Chel - We love you
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Oh Dear, Oh Dear !
Oh Dear Me ! Yesterday was a busy morning with a 7 o'clock and a 9 o'clock obligation and then our internet was down in the afternoon so I missed getting an important message off to a very important person in my life.... One that arrrived way back on April 9 1964 ---- That's right our firstborn came into our lives. SO HAPPY "DAY LATE" BIRTHDAY, STEVE !!
What a very important day that was for both of us. Especially after having the loss of our first child thru a miscarriage in December of 1962. I wasn't very far along but it was still a hard thing.
We were living in Port Angeles and were in the Coast Guard at the time. Bob was out at sea for a month on the CG Cutter Winona and I was visiting Mom and Dad in Aberdeen for a spell and while he was gone we lost the baby. Being the first I think it was even harder as then you begin to question if this was just a fluke or were we going to be able to have children.
But our God is gracious and sure enough in July of 1963 while we were living in Seattle, Washington (Bob got out of the Coast Guard in February and had gotten a job working as a civilian for the Coast Guard at Base Seattle) we found out we were pregnant again.
Things were all fine and dandy and then.... we found out there was a job opening in Astoria, Oregon and we decided we didn't want to raise children in the big city so at eight months pregnant we transfered and moved to Astoria.
Now I would not recommend moving eight months into a pregnancy but it can be done. When you are young and crazy you do those sorts of things. Had lots of help and managed to get moved into a little house on Clover Lane (isn't that a fun address - when we lived in Wildwood, New Jersey we lived on 146 W Crocus Road, that was a fun address too - but I'm on a bunny trail now)
Back to my story, now moving into a new town expecting a baby in a month, finding a Dr was on the top of the list. I first went to one, I did not care for at all so I got the assistance of our neighbor who had two children and she directed me to the "Baby Dr" in town. Yes, our good old Dr Kettelkamp who delivered all three of our children.
You know, the first delivery is always sort of a "what have I gotten myself into" sort of experience as you are laying there with each contraction. But as usual God took control and Bob felt useful in the pre delivery room timing contractions (which I don't think the nurse ever looked at, it just gave him something to do to feel important)
So at 9:55 am April 9, 1964 Steven Glen came to join our family at a walloping ten pounds!
(I know, I know big babies run in our family. I was 10 pounds at birth, Ken our second born was 10 lbs 6 oz, and then there was our grandson Ethan who beat us all at 11 pounds 4 ounces born to our daughter, Cathy)
But back to Steve - What a blessing he was to us. We had been married almost four years. Bob had been on isolated duty for a year (which means no wives) in the Coast Guard in Alaska) so that slowed us down a bit on having children. So Steve was a precious bundle of joy for us when he arrived. He was the first grandson on Bob's side of the family and that was a special blessing too. All of the grandparents were totally taken in by him ! I can remember after he was born the nurse laying him in my arms and his eyebrows were shaped exactly like his Dad's. How cute!
We soon learned the ropes of parenthood with Arlene Graham, my neighbor, being there for all of my stupid new mother questions. After all, she had two children and had all the answers.
He was a good baby and was a total joy to us. Each new thing he would do was so fun to watch from his first words to his first steps and then watching him grow thru his childhood.
Now he has grown up into a fine young man, married a beautiful young lady, loves the Lord and serves Him well and has given us three precious young men for grandsons.
What could make parents more proud..... SO HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT BIRTHDAY, STEVE,
THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT SON - WE LOVE YOU.
Hugs to you and Lorraine and the boys !
What a very important day that was for both of us. Especially after having the loss of our first child thru a miscarriage in December of 1962. I wasn't very far along but it was still a hard thing.
We were living in Port Angeles and were in the Coast Guard at the time. Bob was out at sea for a month on the CG Cutter Winona and I was visiting Mom and Dad in Aberdeen for a spell and while he was gone we lost the baby. Being the first I think it was even harder as then you begin to question if this was just a fluke or were we going to be able to have children.
But our God is gracious and sure enough in July of 1963 while we were living in Seattle, Washington (Bob got out of the Coast Guard in February and had gotten a job working as a civilian for the Coast Guard at Base Seattle) we found out we were pregnant again.
Things were all fine and dandy and then.... we found out there was a job opening in Astoria, Oregon and we decided we didn't want to raise children in the big city so at eight months pregnant we transfered and moved to Astoria.
Now I would not recommend moving eight months into a pregnancy but it can be done. When you are young and crazy you do those sorts of things. Had lots of help and managed to get moved into a little house on Clover Lane (isn't that a fun address - when we lived in Wildwood, New Jersey we lived on 146 W Crocus Road, that was a fun address too - but I'm on a bunny trail now)
Back to my story, now moving into a new town expecting a baby in a month, finding a Dr was on the top of the list. I first went to one, I did not care for at all so I got the assistance of our neighbor who had two children and she directed me to the "Baby Dr" in town. Yes, our good old Dr Kettelkamp who delivered all three of our children.
You know, the first delivery is always sort of a "what have I gotten myself into" sort of experience as you are laying there with each contraction. But as usual God took control and Bob felt useful in the pre delivery room timing contractions (which I don't think the nurse ever looked at, it just gave him something to do to feel important)
So at 9:55 am April 9, 1964 Steven Glen came to join our family at a walloping ten pounds!
(I know, I know big babies run in our family. I was 10 pounds at birth, Ken our second born was 10 lbs 6 oz, and then there was our grandson Ethan who beat us all at 11 pounds 4 ounces born to our daughter, Cathy)
But back to Steve - What a blessing he was to us. We had been married almost four years. Bob had been on isolated duty for a year (which means no wives) in the Coast Guard in Alaska) so that slowed us down a bit on having children. So Steve was a precious bundle of joy for us when he arrived. He was the first grandson on Bob's side of the family and that was a special blessing too. All of the grandparents were totally taken in by him ! I can remember after he was born the nurse laying him in my arms and his eyebrows were shaped exactly like his Dad's. How cute!
We soon learned the ropes of parenthood with Arlene Graham, my neighbor, being there for all of my stupid new mother questions. After all, she had two children and had all the answers.
He was a good baby and was a total joy to us. Each new thing he would do was so fun to watch from his first words to his first steps and then watching him grow thru his childhood.
Now he has grown up into a fine young man, married a beautiful young lady, loves the Lord and serves Him well and has given us three precious young men for grandsons.
What could make parents more proud..... SO HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT BIRTHDAY, STEVE,
THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT SON - WE LOVE YOU.
Hugs to you and Lorraine and the boys !
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Thank You Someone
Many years ago when Cathy and I were going to the YMCA to attend the Mom and Tot swim program I started attending an exercise program during the mornings she was in kindergarten.
We often just used the gym but occasionally on nice days in the spring, we would leave the Y and jog up to the corner on 11th and Irving where the road makes you go either left or right leaving a big hill with steps going up the hill. The steps went on both sides of a flower bed at the bottom then joined up a piece and went on up the hill.
Right in the middle of that flower bed was a pink flowering tree that was absolutely beautiful each spring. I looked forward to seeing it every year.
BUT LO AND BEHOLD ! The first time I went into town after our December storm
IT WAS GONE ! I MEAN REALLY GONE. THE STORM HAS TOTALLY WIPED IT OUT !
It was like losing an old friend...one I enjoyed every time I saw it. It made me sad !
Then one day recently I drove into town and guess what !!! That's right, someone has
replaced my big beautiful tree with a little sapling with his tag from the nursery still on the
trunk of the tree.... What a fun thing to find. My big friend tree is gone but I now have a new one to watch grow up and celebrate spring with me.
Sometimes change is hard but there is always new things to encourage us and let us know God cares about the little things in life and often will replace the things we love with new things for us to enjoy.
So welcome little tree and a big thank you to whoever put him there for me.
We often just used the gym but occasionally on nice days in the spring, we would leave the Y and jog up to the corner on 11th and Irving where the road makes you go either left or right leaving a big hill with steps going up the hill. The steps went on both sides of a flower bed at the bottom then joined up a piece and went on up the hill.
Right in the middle of that flower bed was a pink flowering tree that was absolutely beautiful each spring. I looked forward to seeing it every year.
BUT LO AND BEHOLD ! The first time I went into town after our December storm
IT WAS GONE ! I MEAN REALLY GONE. THE STORM HAS TOTALLY WIPED IT OUT !
It was like losing an old friend...one I enjoyed every time I saw it. It made me sad !
Then one day recently I drove into town and guess what !!! That's right, someone has
replaced my big beautiful tree with a little sapling with his tag from the nursery still on the
trunk of the tree.... What a fun thing to find. My big friend tree is gone but I now have a new one to watch grow up and celebrate spring with me.
Sometimes change is hard but there is always new things to encourage us and let us know God cares about the little things in life and often will replace the things we love with new things for us to enjoy.
So welcome little tree and a big thank you to whoever put him there for me.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Balance of Life
Can life really balance? That would be so cool but probably doesn't happen to us very often in this busy, busy time of living we are in nowdays.
What made me think of this is how much fun we had last week with the grandkids here....
Sometimes you forget how precious the sound is of children (and teenagers) laughing, and playing and yes even scrapping at each other. The house is alive and vibrant with questions like: Can I have a snack - Make him stop bugging me - Can I get on the computer - Can I set the table for you, Grandma - and even the simple little sounds as a young man quietly builds a a big lanky alien out of plastic sticks before anyone but me is up.
Yes, the cat hides for the week and we trip over the unending pile of shoes by the door and the poor dishwasher says "what are you doing to me?"but we love every minute of it. Hang in there all you parents. Enjoy your children because before you know it you will have the other side of the coin. (Thanks for coming with the kids, Cathy)
Yes, the quiet side..... Just as preciously needed as the noisy side but a balance would be nice.
Yes, we need the side where we can stop and reflect on God's Word and what He is doing in our life daily and just days when we can wake up and say "there is nothing I really have to do today.
Believe it or not, that rarely happens around here even though we are retired. It seems our days are busier than when we both worked but at least that is our option.
What happened to the days when people sat on their porches in the evenings and watch the sun go down. The neighbors would go for a walk and stop for a chat. (That was even before my time, I'm afraid, but it sounds great.) Everybody knew everybody in the neighborhood.....
Now how many of us know very many if any of our neighbors more than to just maybe wave as they drive out the driveway. There needs to be a balance of busyness and noise verses the quiet and comtemplative hours in our lives where we can examine where we are in life and where are we headed.
Our recent storm really brought this home to me because without lights, heat and many other things for 36 hours your perspective changes. You know what happened !!! People actually talked to each other, opened their homes to those in need, helped in community food kitchens to get people fed and donated time to be sure others were safe by manning amateur radios all over town 24 hours a day to keep people in touch with the world when they no communications with all the phone lines down (yes, even 911 was the first thing to go).
So from enjoying laughing children to having quiet times alone with God and others we need balance in our lives. Time to enjoy, time to reflect and just time to live the lives God intended us to live - with balance in all things.
It's the tyranny of the urgent, folks ---- The urgent will always demand our attention and it must be done but the important sits quietly aside waiting for us to make time for it.
What is important in your life? MAKE time for it - whether it is taking time to love your kids or grandkids, visiting people, spending time alone with God, taking time to really talk to your spouse or friends without distractions or just personal time to think about where you are in life and how can you improve the quality time of you're own life or someone else's life you love.
How is your balance ??
What made me think of this is how much fun we had last week with the grandkids here....
Sometimes you forget how precious the sound is of children (and teenagers) laughing, and playing and yes even scrapping at each other. The house is alive and vibrant with questions like: Can I have a snack - Make him stop bugging me - Can I get on the computer - Can I set the table for you, Grandma - and even the simple little sounds as a young man quietly builds a a big lanky alien out of plastic sticks before anyone but me is up.
Yes, the cat hides for the week and we trip over the unending pile of shoes by the door and the poor dishwasher says "what are you doing to me?"but we love every minute of it. Hang in there all you parents. Enjoy your children because before you know it you will have the other side of the coin. (Thanks for coming with the kids, Cathy)
Yes, the quiet side..... Just as preciously needed as the noisy side but a balance would be nice.
Yes, we need the side where we can stop and reflect on God's Word and what He is doing in our life daily and just days when we can wake up and say "there is nothing I really have to do today.
Believe it or not, that rarely happens around here even though we are retired. It seems our days are busier than when we both worked but at least that is our option.
What happened to the days when people sat on their porches in the evenings and watch the sun go down. The neighbors would go for a walk and stop for a chat. (That was even before my time, I'm afraid, but it sounds great.) Everybody knew everybody in the neighborhood.....
Now how many of us know very many if any of our neighbors more than to just maybe wave as they drive out the driveway. There needs to be a balance of busyness and noise verses the quiet and comtemplative hours in our lives where we can examine where we are in life and where are we headed.
Our recent storm really brought this home to me because without lights, heat and many other things for 36 hours your perspective changes. You know what happened !!! People actually talked to each other, opened their homes to those in need, helped in community food kitchens to get people fed and donated time to be sure others were safe by manning amateur radios all over town 24 hours a day to keep people in touch with the world when they no communications with all the phone lines down (yes, even 911 was the first thing to go).
So from enjoying laughing children to having quiet times alone with God and others we need balance in our lives. Time to enjoy, time to reflect and just time to live the lives God intended us to live - with balance in all things.
It's the tyranny of the urgent, folks ---- The urgent will always demand our attention and it must be done but the important sits quietly aside waiting for us to make time for it.
What is important in your life? MAKE time for it - whether it is taking time to love your kids or grandkids, visiting people, spending time alone with God, taking time to really talk to your spouse or friends without distractions or just personal time to think about where you are in life and how can you improve the quality time of you're own life or someone else's life you love.
How is your balance ??
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